Considering problems of service and utilizing solutions: development of an educational tool to assist servers

It can be established that problems of community service exist. To address the possibility that a service program might unintentionally foster such problems, a study was conducted to determine the appropriate contents of an educational tool that could be used to assist program participants and other servers in avoiding problematic service. This project began within a particular service program, the Short-Term Internship Program (SIP); a period of fieldwork was undertaken with the overseeing community organization, during which information was gathered to understand parameters of the service program. Next, four categories of problematic service were devised and scholarly literature was analyzed to draw out and categorize problems of service and associated solutions. Because the fourth category contains problems of service that result from server attitude, and this educational tool was intended for servers, category four was analyzed further to find patterns. Eight problem themes were distinguished. The solutions found focused mainly on reflection or thinking about and questioning the service being done, therefore this became the major focus of the educational tool. Problem themes and solutions, along with parameters of the particular service program, and information about appropriate reflection, were employed to develop the educational tool.